Former heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury has revealed he will come back to boxing in 2026, ending his most recent period of retirement.
The 37-year-old British fighter last competed in December 2024, when he suffered a second defeat to unified champion Oleksandr Usyk in their heavyweight rematch. A month later, Fury announced his retirement.
Rumors about a return had increased lately after Fury released videos of his training sessions in Thailand with South African fighter Kevin Lerena.
Fury posted on Instagram on Sunday, stating, “2026 is the year. “The Mac’s comeback. I’ve been gone for some time, but I’m here again. 37 years old and still going strong. “There’s nothing more enjoyable than hitting men in the face and earning money for it.”
Fury’s comeback to the ring was highly anticipated. His latest retirement was received with doubt last year, considering his record of comebacks.
He had earlier taken a break from boxing after defeating Dillian Whyte at Wembley Stadium in April 2022 but returned six months later.
Queensberry promoter Frank Warren stated that he anticipates Fury will compete once more. Saudi Arabia powerbroker Turki Alalshikh allegedly intended for Fury and longtime rival Anthony Joshua to engage in individual matches in the Kingdom in early 2026 before eventually facing each other later that year.
Joshua supported that possibility after beating Jake Paul in December, stating he was prepared to take on Fury next.
Those plans are now doubtful following Joshua’s injury in a car accident in Nigeria that resulted in the deaths of two dear friends.
Fury had two reigns as the heavyweight champion and has a professional record of 34 victories, two losses—both to Usyk—and one draw with Deontay Wilder.
In 2015, he shocked the reigning champion, Wladimir Klitschko, to secure the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and The Ring heavyweight titles in Germany.
Following over two and a half years out of the ring, during which he dealt with mental health issues, Fury made his comeback in 2018 and reclaimed world champion status by defeating Wilder in 2020, securing the WBC title.
Fury has candidly expressed his desire to seek revenge for his losses to Usyk, who presently possesses the WBA (Super), WBC, and IBF titles.
Fans seem to have little interest in a trilogy, and the Ukrainian has mentioned he would rather defend his titles against Wilder next.
A possible path to world-title contention might involve a national bout against Fabio Wardley, the reigning WBO champion, and another fighter under Warren’s Queensberry promotion.
